Chit-Chat

[Laraqua]

This is where we can just chat about things and get to know each other. I've been researching the Home Front pretty extensively since I picked up an old project I was going to do as a Chaosium Monograph but have since decided to try my hand at crafting a more custom system and supernatural background (don't worry, Mr. Handy, it's got heaps of background information in it still and I can send you all the BRP rules and mechanics I'd already written up for the Monograph side of things). I've also learned a lot more about British History during it and have realised that there's more information in Australian public libraries on the Home Front than I'd previously imagined. Unfortunately, you have to browse the book shelves because they're not well-listed and a search of the indexes for Home Front or even 1939 - 1945 might not actually bring it up.

Anyway, I'm still bound to get some stuff wrong but don't we all?

Ooh, also I looked up Blitz Memorabilia on ebay and came across about a dozen different packs of props designed for school children in Britain. $150 later I've had it all shipped to me! I've rationed myself to opening one a week and examining one document or cluster of, say, cards per day to really get maximum enjoyment of it. I've so far seen poster cover cards, an ARP card, and a ration book. This has me ridiculously excited and perplexes my fiance but, hey, such is life.

[aine]

I'm figuring on putting the orphanage in Gloucestershire somewhere. I'll do a bit of research to double check that the area is suitable. Basically, small country town that's big enough to have most of the amenities (some rural areas hadn't changed much over the past couple hundred years) but it small enough to be mostly wide open farmland and an almost idyllic Miss Marple style.

I live in Gloucestershire. Have a look at Winchcombe. It's an old market town, plenty of ancient buildings/houses and local history but still pretty sleepy. Others, like Stow, Banbury and Evesham are relatively happening and busy. Things haven't changed much since the 1940's so I guess it would have been the same situation then.

[Garrett]

When do you think the roleplaying itself will start?

[Laraqua]

Once I have everyone's histories and sheets.

Winchcombe looks perfect. Forgive any instances of 'didn't do the research' as there's only so much the internet can provide compared to, y'know, living there. I'm happy for you to ad-lib a bit of what's in the town. If you know it has a certain something, you can always describe it. I'm happy to be a bit more collaborative with that. Otherwise, feel free to post here any interesting tidbits you learn.

[Garrett]

Who are we waiting on?

[CrackheadC.]

I believe you are waiting on me, I'm ironing out the last kinks in my character now and I should have it posted soon.

[Garrett]

hurry up man, I can't wait to get started.

[CrackheadC.]

There you go, all set up.

[Laraqua]

There you go. First post up!

[Laraqua]

http://www.winchcombe.co.uk/visitors/about-winchcombe

http://www.winchcombe.co.uk/directory/v ... ttractions

Wow. A very cool location. Wish I could visit England.... Stupid air fares from Australia are expensive.

[royya]

I'm going to be away for a conference in the UK. My internet access will be limited till the 23 September.

Roy

[Laraqua]

Philulhu, good spot on the ute. Didn't think to check on whether one of our most mundane vehicles was around back then. One of those flat-bed small truck thingies then. Also, good spot on the petrol rationing. The non-orphanage boys (and the teenager) likely would wander about it as well and why no one's pulled them up on it. The "civilian" petrol ration wasn't abolished until 1942, and after that vehicle fuel was only available to "official" users, such as the emergency services, bus companies and farmers. Still, its a bit of a waste of petrol. Oh well, I'm sure there's nothing 'red' about the fuel. A cookie to anyone who gets the implication.

[Philulhu]

Off the top of my head, I'd suggest that red dye was added to fuel for agricultural vehicles so as to catch people using it for other purposes. It still happens today, except nowadays it's because tax on agricultural diesel is lower than your average motorist pays at the pumps, making it much cheaper to buy.

[Mr. Handy]

I'm American, but I hadn't known what an ute was when it was first mentioned here. I'd thought it must have been some kind of horse-drawn vehicle. I've always known utes as pickup trucks, but this is a big country. Maybe in other parts of it they're called utes.

[aine]

May be one of these. 1930's built so good for the time frame. Low petrol consumption. Just about get the kids in the back. I would say the British equivalent of the ute would be a Landrover but they weren't built until 1948.

[Philulhu]

Good find! You could always borrow the local butcher's van if he's feeling generous...

OOC,For Dad's Army fans, this is the original van used by Corporal Jones in the TV series. It's a 1935 Ford Box Van which has been in private hands for a number of years... but it's coming up for auction! The reserve is only £20,000 - £30,000 - who wants in? ;)

[Laraqua]

That is goooorgeous.

It'd be the one above the butcher's van. Let's go with that one.

Also, Philulhu is pretty much correct, but it was added to commercial fuel rather than agricultural fuel (it covered agricultural fuel as well) and was to show fuel that wasn't intended for private use so they could spot if someone had sold it on the black market or were using it for their regular cars. Some black marketeers figured out to remove the dye from the petrol.

[royya]

And Mike hoped to drive this ute:

[Mr. Handy]

Maybe when he's an old man, if he survives that long.

[Philulhu]

A glimpse into the future - what's the sanity-blasting effects of that?!